REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 307 



not believe in cultivating among cherry-trees at all. In regard to the pruning 

 of strawberry plants, had never thought of it, but did not see why it would 

 not be a good plan. Believed that in pruning grapes we should be governed 

 by the strength of the vine, the soil in which it was planted, and the amount 

 of exposure it had to the sun ; thought the sun should shine on the root as 

 well as on the leaves of the vine. Thought twenty or twenty-five pounds of 

 grapes was too much for a vine to bear. 



Mr. Ashton then gave an exhibition of spur pruning. He thought the 

 reason the grapes did not ripen was that the vine was too long, not cut back 

 enough. 



Mr. Randall gave an explanation of mildew, the cause and the remedy there- 

 for ; also his plan of grafting grape vines, showing some of his grafts. 



The chair then introduced Mr. Saang, a German, who has lately become a 

 member of the society. Mr. Saang gave a brief but comprehensive descrip- 

 tion of the manner of pruning in the old country. He is a man of a great 

 deal of experience in grape culture and is a valuable addition to the society. 



Mr. Collier had tried summer pruning of grape vines, and had grapes in 

 blossom, green and ripe on the vine all at once — in September. Did not like 

 the tree plan of pruning currants and gooseberries. Preferred the bush plan 

 in order to cope with the borers. 



Prof. Whitney favored the long arm system of pruning. Thought the 

 grapes were thrown more in the sun. Cited the Whittlesey vineyard in St. 

 Joseph, which is on the same kind of soil as ours, is pruned on that plan and 

 their fruit is famous the world over. Thought we did not prune enough. 

 Better take two years longer to grow the vine and wait for grapes. 



Mr. Ashton said that the grapes growing nearest the root were the sweetest. 

 Thought we should prune to put more sugar in our grapes. 



Mr. Collier: If Mr. Ashton wants sugar in his grapes, he will have to have a 

 warmer August than we had last year or put it in himself. 



Mr. Williams asked: "If you do not believe in summer pruning what are 

 we to do with the shoots that run out 15 or 20 feet during the summer; often 

 across the rows, interfering with cultivation?" 



Mr. Saang: They should be cut off as soon as they start with a pair of shears. 

 I put manure around my vines during the cool weather last August, and my 

 grapes all ripened early and evenly. 



Mr. Campaney thought apple trees should be trimmed low enough that the 

 sun could not shine on the body of the tree. Thought the best cultivator to 

 use in an orchard was a drove of hogs. Thought cultivation broke the roots 

 and damaged the body of the tree more than all the good it did. The hogs 

 would keep the ground worked up, keep it mellow and eat all the wormy fruit 

 as fast as it fell off, thus destroying all the insects and worms. Thought more 

 orchards were injured by heat and cultivation than by cold weather. He then 

 read a very well written article on "Fertilizers and their application," showing 

 the different kinds to be used, and the manner of applying. 



E. E. Campaney, of Norton, then read a paper upon 



FERTILIZERS AND THEIR APPLICATION. 



Opinions in this have been formed by experimenting and observation of what, 

 when and how fertilizers are to be applied. In my opinion, the clay soil needs 



